Leakproof applicator closure for dispensing containers



Jan. 5, .1943. R. B. KlNGMAN PENSING CONTAINERS LEAK-PROOF APPLICATOR CLOSURE FOR DIS Filed April 15, 1941 INVENTOR.

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Patented Jan. 5, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI'C LEAKPRIOOF APPLICAT'OR CLOSURE FOR DISPENSING CONTAINERS Russell B. Kingman, Orange, N. J. Application April 15, 1941, Serial No. 388,615

Claims.

sure means is applied.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same. Illustrative means in vertical cross-section; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing the closure means in its open relation to the container discharge mouth.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2

closing and sealing position.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawing, the reference character l0 indicates the body of a dispensing container adapted to hold a supply of fluent material de-' sired to be dispensed. Illustratively, said material may be a liquid cleaning fluid such as commonly used for removing soil spots from garments and other materials, liquid polishing materials, liquid dyes, etc; or, in fact, any fluent substance suitable for other selected specific uses.

material,

15 and in said sealthereof lying outmouth defining flange Formed in the cap top wall ing disc 13, in the portions wardly of the container 14, 1. e. between said flange and the annular skirt I! of the cap, emission openings l9.

Externally applied to and of the cap is a liquid imperv1ous elastic sleeve are one or more vents or l6 of the cap, so as to openings l9 thereriorly over the top wall overlie the vents or emission in, is an applicator member 22, the marginal or skirt portions 23 of which are folded down and gathered around the skirt H of the cap and over and around those portions of said elastic sleeve which are contiguous to the cap skirt l1. Said applicator member is formed from a pervious material, fabric or the like; and is preferably made of a textile pile fabric such e. g. as a mohair fabric. Means is provided for fastening the applicator member 22, together with said elastic sleeve 20, in the described assembled relation to the cap, the same comprising an external keeper ferrule or collar 24. This keeper ferrule or collar 24 is pushed downwardly and telescopically over and around the skirt portions 23 of said applicator member and underlying portions of the elastic sleeve 20, thereby to tightly and immovably wedge and bind these parts against the skirt H of the cap, so that the same are firmly and securely gripped and held in operative assembled relation to said cap. Connected with said ferrule or collar 24, preferably as an integral part thereof, and so as to depend from the lower margin thereof, is a combined indicator pointer and stop member 2'5, so shaped as to overhang the periphery of the container shoulder portion H. Said indicator and stop means 25 is adapted to cooperate with a complimentary stop means with which the container body In is provided, whereby to limit the rotative manipulation of the cap to partially unscrew the same relative to the container neck portion l2, and thus lift and release the sealing disc l8 from normal closed and sealing relation to the container mouth. To this end there is integrally formed in connection with the periphery of the container shoulder H a stop portion 26 which terminates in a stop abutment 2'! adapted to be disposed in the path of movement of said indicator and tion of rotative loosening or ment of the closure member clockwise direction), whereby to oppose and limit movement of the indicator and stop means and cap in such direction. Said stop portion is preferably provided in the form of an eccentric rib adapted to taper from its stop abutment end so as to merge in the periphery of the container shoulder portion ll. When the closure member is turned in clockwise direction to move the cap downwardly on the container neck portion 2 to container mouth closing and sealing position, the indicator and stop 25 is spaced away from said stop abutment 21. The pointed extremity of the indicator and stop 25 cooperates with off and on indicating marks with which the container body is provided as shown, or, optionally, as displayed on a label applied to the container body.

The method of assembling the elements of the closure member after the cap part thereof has been screwed tightly home in container mouth closing position, so as to obtain the proper and accurately predetermined coordination of the stop and indicating markings, is attained in the manner and with the advantages fully disclosed in my aforesaid co-pending application Serial No. 365,418, new Patent 2,268,402.

When the cap of the closure member is screwed home upon the threaded neck portion l2 of the container, the lower marginal portions of the elastic sleeve 20 depending below the cap rim 2!, are brought into engagement with the surface unscrewing move- (as shown, in antistop means 25 in the direcwardly beyond of the container shoulder portion H, with tendency to turn or curl inwardly toward the neck portion 12, thus providing an annular sealing gasket member 30. The sealing gasket member 30 thus provided tensionally bears against said surface of the container shoulder portion H in close hugging contact therewith, and preferably, although not necessarily, in such manner that its free inner marginal portion will likewise contact and thrustingly bear against the surface of the container neck portion 12 which adjoins the surface of the container shoulder portion H. Thus the sealing gasket member 30 acts as a seal against outflow of any liquid outthe same which may seep downwardly between the cap skirt l1 and the container neck portion 12.

The sealing gasket member 30 being composed of elastic and liquid impervious material, will not relax its tensional thrust against the container body when the cap is partially rotated and loosened to effect an open condition of the closure member, and consequently will maintain its pressure contact with the container so as to effectively obstruct and prevent outflow of liquid exteriorly beyond the same, under open as well as closed conditions of the closure member. It will therefore be obvious that not only is outward leakage of liquid efficiently prevented at all times, but loss of liquids of volatile character by evaporation is likewise prevented; the latter effect being a very important consideration in connection with the commercial distribution of certain classes of liquid products packed in dispensing containers; such e. g. as volatile spot cleaning liquids, grease solvents and the like.

The annular sealing gasket member 30, although adapted to effectively thrust against an exterior surface of the container with sealing effeet at all times, will, nevertheless, readily slide or slip on the engaged surfaces so as not to unduly impede or prevent operative rotative manipulation and movement of the closure member relative to the container neck portion. Preferably the elastic sleeve 20 and its sealing gasket member 30 is made of soft vulcanized rubber, and, in such case, frictional resistance to slippage thereof relative to the container surfaces contacted thereby may be reduced, if desired, without loss of sealing effect, by providing the portions of the container surface engaged thereby with a film of a suitable lubricating substance.

In Fig. 5 is shown a somewhat modified form of the closure member having the leakage pre vention sealing gasket means of this invention. In this modified construction the cap of the closure member is provided with a domed top wall i6 having a single vent opening l9 centrally located therein beneath the applicator member 22. The sealing disc i8 is supported or backed by a rigid backing plate l8, the margins of which engage the juncture of the top wall l6 and the skirt H of the cap, thus bridging the concave underside of the cap top wall so as to provide a chamber 28 communicating with said vent opening It, while at the same time rigidly backing the sealing disc I8 for sealing engagement with the top of the container mouth defining flange l4. Provided in said sealing disc in and its backing plate I8 are the outlying vents l9 to afford communication between the interior of the container and said chamber 28 when the closure member is in open condition. This modified form of closure member is especially adapted for use in dispensing a liquid to the central ferrule telescopically enportions of said applicator and elastic sleeve operaand a tubular keeper gaged over superposed member skirt portions body having a stop the periphery of its shoulder portion, and said ferrule having a stop from for cooperation with said stop projection to limit opening movement of .said cap'.

2. A dispensing container comprising, a body having an externally screw-threaded' 'neck and a shoulder portion at the juncture of said body and neck, said neck terminating in a container mouth defining portion of reduced diameter, a closure cap threaded onto said neck, said cap having an internal sealing disc to close and seal said container mouth when the said disc having vent means spaced outwardly from said mouth defining portion, said cap having vent means in its top wall in communication with said disc vent means, an elastic sleeve around said cap sides, said sleeve having a free lower end portion extending from said cap to form an extensible resilient annular sealing gasket member to thrustingly engage the body shoulder portion, a keeper ferrule to clamp said sleeve to the cap sides, said jection extending from the periphery of its shoulder portion, and said ferrule having a stop element dependent therefrom for cooperation with said stop projection to limit opening movement of said cap.

3. A dispensing container comprising, a body having an externally screw-threaded neck and a shoulder portion at the juncture of said body and neck, said neck terminating in a container element dependent theredo cap is screwed home,

body having a stop promouth defining portion of reduced diameter, a closure cap threaded onto said neck, said cap having an internal sealing disc to close and seal container body substantially within the juncture of its shoulder and neck portions, a keeper ferrule to clamp said sleeve to the cap sides, said body having a stop projection extending from the periphery of its shoulder portion, and said ferrule having a stop element dependent therefrom for cooperation with said step projection to limit opening movement of said cap.

4. A dispensing container comprising, a body having an externally screw-threaded neck and a shoulder portion at the juncture of said body and neck, said neck terminating in a container mouth said mouth defining portion, said cap having vent means in its top wall in communication with said disc vent means, an elastic sleeve around said having a free lower portion terminating in an inturned marginal portion thereby providing a resilient annular sealing gasket member engaging the container body substantially within the juncture of-its shoulder and neck portions, a pervious applicator member having skirt portions folded down around the cap sides, and a tubular keeper ferrule telescopically J'ection to limit of said cap.

5. A dispensing container comprising, abody having an externally screw-threaded neck and a shoulder portion at the juncture of said body and neck, a closure cap threaded onto said neck, said cap having vent means to communicate with the interior of the body when the cap is loosened on said neck, an elastic sleeve around and affixed to said cap sides, said sleeve having a free lower end portion extending from said cap to form an extensible resilient annular sealing gasket member to thrustingly engage the body shoulder portion in both closed and loosened open positions of said cap, and means to limit the rising loosening movement of said cap.

RUSSELL B. KIN GMAN 

